Morning was hell. Never again. Daz stumbled out of his bed, his legs giving out from under him. He hit the floor hard. Damn alcohol. If he had know, he would have never touched the stuff. Getting up he was still quite dizzy so he just fell back into his bed to comfortably slumber some more. Sadly his head spun so much, he really couldn’t take it. Standing up again, more sick than he ever had been all his life, he walked to the door on weak legs and crashed right into it.

His depth perception was off, everything spun and the headache! Daz exited through the door in a half confused half defeated state, asking every person he encountered for a bath. After the third or fourth person someone dragged him along, and far too many stairs downwards later he found himself in a small room. He was told to undress here and walk through the door in the back.

After some struggle with his own state he advanced through the room and entered the next. A big wide open room appeared, in it several basins. Some filled with water, some waiting to be filled. A few were actually taken already and shielded from unwanted views with a large curtain all around. “Good Morning. Hot or Cold?” Daz just stared at the man, that was holding several pieces of cloth. Towels? “Ah, I see. Wild night?” Daz nodded. “Cold it is then. This will get you right back to your senses.

He lead him towards an empty basin and apparently activated a cristall at a side. Immediately the pool filled up with water. Water so clear, Daz had never seen anything like it. “How… How did-” The man smiled. “Water absorbing crystals. They are made by a division in the royal army. When activated they release the water again. Slowly, but you can store quite a large amount.”

Daz blamed his slow thinking on the hangover and climbed into the bath. The pool was only around 3 times 3 meters large and about 2 meters deep. A few moments of shock later, his body adapted to the cold water. The pool had nearly filled up completely already and while swimming around a bit and diving his headache disappeared. While leaning back and holding himself above water on the edges he remembered something.

Last night someone stole all his money! He had to get it back! How could he have been so stupid to trust a random stranger? On his first night in the city no less!? Daz dove underwater and screamed out his anger. It felt satisfying to scream his lungs out where no one could hear him. Immediately after that he decided to find the man who stole his money. If he was a military soldier he would be know to the officers!

Daz got out of his bath, dried himself off and hurried to get back to his room. In his hungover state he had forgotten to lock his room! Hopefully no one had stolen his bag, then he would be basically homeless. For a while he struggled to find the way back, but everything slowly came back to him. How could he have been so insanely stupid. He randomly hit walls in anger while returning to his room.

Luckily nothing had been stolen. Quickly he checked his bag. Seven silver left. That meant he had spent three for the night and he had given away sixty five silver! Aside from the fact that he had given away sixty five silver, spending three silver coins for drinks and the night was way too wasteful. Daz collapsed on the wooden floor of his room and needed a moment to come to his senses. In the room next to him a woman moaned in pleasure.

Daz decided what he would do. He would wait for her to finish with her current customer and then go for a round himself! Five silver, seven. He did not care anymore. He needed to calm down or he would kill someone. Luckily it sounded like she was finishing up right now. Stepping outside he waited a bit away from the room, until it opened. Out stepped his beardy soldier friend from last night…

Daz saw red and wanted to punch the guy. “Woa, woa. Stop! Daz! Calm down! What is going on?!” He slowed down. He had expected fright, that the guy would run or defend himself. But he was just confused. Why? Had ne not scammed him for his money? And slept some of it away just now?? “Where is MY MONEY?” He had not wanted to scream, but somehow he could hardly control himself. The soldier eyed him in a calm manner. “Huh. Blackout drunk hm? Well, let’s just get something to drink. I will explain.”

A short while later Daz sat down with the man on the same table in the back while waiting for an explanation. His bag with sword and shield ready for grabbing. He would drag the scumbag right back to the academy across the street if he had no good explanation what happened last night! The cute waitress from last night appeared. “Ah, dear. Be a darling and bring us some eggs, potatoes and some greens. Maybe beans and some bacon? And apple juice for both of us, we had both too much to drink last night.” As she disappeared with the order Daz glared at the man.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

“Now. Explain.” - “Right, right. Last night you flyweight could not handle your booze and pretty much collapsed. Had to drag you upstairs all by myself. Do you know how heavy you are? I mea-” - “Cut the shit. What did you do with my money. You scamming piece of shit!” The soldier got mad. He also raised his voice to a load and angry talking. “Scamming piece of shit? Listen here lad, I took all that money and most of my own last night to my friends. As I had promised you! And if you think I am lying, who do you think has a date with them for special examination tomorrow, fourteen o'clock?”

He slammed at the desk. “I am investing in you, and you just go and forget about all the things we talked last night!” Daz felt ashamed. The man looked really sincere, and which con artist just stayed around after the deed was done? “I am so sorry. I suspected you, I am really sorry. Did everything go well with your friends?” The man smiled deviously. “Yes, they will test you personally, and of course they will be a little bias. You told me you are pretty strong so that will help a lot.” - “Really? Thanks so much!”

The barmaid appeared at the table again, serving the breakfast and after Daz feasted a bit he felt really much better. “You should go to the magical tower on the eastern wing, lad. They will assess if you are able to cast magic. That's very important to know beforehand. Gives you leverage. Sadly I’ve never had any talent…” - “What do I need to do the exam?” - “Nothing, just go there explain yourself they will test you. Then you will be branded though. Hurts a bunch. See.”

The soldier pulled up his uniform and revealed a black cross on his arm. “Black is for non talent. Blue the first level, then green, yellow, orange, red and purple. If you have talent it’s worth checking it out.” Daz spoke a little more with the man and after agreeing to meet back here in the afternoon for drinks Daz took off in search for the magical tower.

It took not a really long time, the soldiers directions had been accurate and such a large tower was hardly overlooked. It was bigger than any other building in the area even bigger than the guard towers near the walls. Apparently nobody saw the need to guard the entrance and after entering Daz saw why. The whole tower was one large stairwell, leading all the way up to the top. Apparently he had to climb.

On the way up Daz passed by some other citizens, which apparently were also in search for magical evaluation. For him climbing those stairs was barely cutting into his stamina and he even stumbled upon a group carrying a young girl on a stretcher. She seemed unable to walk and her friends were obviously exhausted. Daz did not hesitate. “Should I carry her up?”

They accepted immediately and after a few minutes he had arrived at the top along her group, which was out of breath trying to keep his pace. “You are strong, mister.” Embarrassed Daz placed the girl back on the stretcher and they approached the guard that stood next to a large glowing rock. “Hello, Sir. We would like to-” The guard just nodded towards a few stone seats in the back off the room. “Wait there. He will come see you soon.” Daz joined them on the bench and waited with the group, two teenager that had been waiting and a old woman, around fifty years old. The strugglers he had passed earlier arrived soon too and the wait continued.

Nearly an hour passed then finally, the door in the ceiling opened and a surprisingly young man stepped down. The guard and all attending citizens fell on their knees while Daz quickly imitated them. Why did they kneel? “Good Morning. I am Leshuro, fourteenth in line to the throne and prince of Antalia. I am today here to test your magic potential. This does not guarantee you any right to study the arts in the academy nor does it allow for privilege like founding for your studies. It is merely a test to assess potential. What you do with it is your responsibility. There are enough sorcerers out there taking disciples. Now stand. It’s annoying to talk to the floor.”

Daz and the group rose to their feet and the guard resumed his former guard post stance. “Now, you will come and touch this big crystal here. If it lights up the color shows how gifted you are. You will all receive a magical branding too, this is painful. Anyone not wanting to be branded please leave.” Then he proceeded to call out for random people. The first six touched the large catalyst and nothing happened. Deeply disappointed they left for the stairs. Then the handicapped girl was carried towards it.

As she touched it the air in the room changed slightly. The stone glimmered. First lightly blue, then it continued before it took on a deep grass green. The girl laughed and the group cheered for her. The prince however seemed rather annoyed. He had higher magical proficiency for sure. Daz got more and more nervous as the testing went on. One blue, another green, then a lot of nothing. Last he was called. About time.

[Don’t go.]

Daz hesitated. He had heard a voice, inside him. Quiet but still. It felt really odd. He took another step towards the crystal but nothing happened. No voice. Maybe that was all the alcohol from last night?

He stepped forward and the air changed sharply. The stone did not glimm, it shone brightly. First blue, then green skipping all the way to red and purple in an instant. Then The purple lost all color and the whole crystal went black. Deep and dark black. Even as Daz pulled back his hand the crystal did not change.

He eyed the room. Everyone stared at him intently with wide open mouths. The prince himself seemed the most shocked.

Then the voice spoke again. [Great.]